Hunqapillar

History. Concept. Etc.Our most extravagant, screw-the-expense bike was the off-roady Bombadil, and the Hunqapillar is a budgetated version of that bike—only slightly short-cutted to make it a lot more affordable and barely less heavy duty than it’s much more expensive big brother. But still—the Hunqapillar is extremely labor-intensive bike by any standards, you pay more for it than you will for a welded bike. (Not a jab at welded bikes, just a fact.)Like all of our bikes, the Hunqapillar is hand-made of fine, lugged steel, and uses our own quite expensive and fine investment-cast fittings.

The Hunqapillar is a touring bike—for road or trail.The riding position, clearance for fat tires and fenders, and braze-ons make the Hunqapillar ready for touring on any surface and in any weather. You won’t find a better touring bike. Some may have disc brakes or suspension or other features of debatable worth, but the Hunqapillar, without them, is our idea of perfect.

And it's a trail bike.The tubes are stout, but reasonable in weight, and the strong lugged joints should last for decades. There’s clearance for 58mm tires. If you need fatter than that, get a Pugsley. Trivia: Former employee Daniel rode a proto-Hunqapillar the entire 2700-miles of the Great Divide trail. No problem. The current ones are vast improvements over that.

And it’s an all-‘rounder, too.You could argue that it’s overkill (strengthwise) for unloaded day rides or general use, but the argument against that argument is even better: The engine (you) still comprises by far the largest percentage of weight on a ready-to-go bicycle, and most adult humans on Earth are better served by losing two to four pounds off the engine—which won’t weaken it— than by taking it off the bike, which will absolutely weaken it. The Hunqapillar is lean but strong.

Meet the Diagatube.It’s the obvious oddball tube on the 58cm and 62cm Hunqapillars, and it strengthens and stiffens the frame by reestablishing the triangulation lost by the taller head tubes. The weight “penalty” is only 8oz or so—too little to even raise an eyebrow over, considering the strength and load-carrying capability of the Hunqapillar. An extra tube is proven technology in Third World countries where bikes are bad and the loads carried are heavy. Bikes without them don’t last. The Hunqapillar has just adopted the same idea, but on a really fine bike.The 54cm and smaller Hunqapillars don’t have room for the diagatube. They have enough triangulation already, and don’t need it.

How do I build up a Hunqapillar?With our help, please, because we’ve built them up for others, and you’ll benefit tremendously from that experience. You can still guide the spec as much or as little as you like. We can either take the reins and ask for your approval, or let you take the reins, and interfere only when we see you heading off a cliff. In any case, we favor “all-around” builds that make your Hunqapillar seem dialed in for however, wherever you ride it. We offer a variety of great parts and great values that work harmoniously, and we can easily determine which bars, shifters, pedals, wheels and tires, and accessories will make you feel at home from the start. There are so many possibilities, our patience is infinite, and we will not let you pick a bad part.

Sizing & Fitting.We determine your size based on your pubic bone height (PBH). As sizing-fitting methods go, it is disarmingly simple, always accurate, and has proven itself on many thousands of riders and fittings since we developed it 1996. You can read online how to measure your PBH, or we can talk you through it on the phone. We also have keen radar for PBH numbers that don’t jive with your height and weight, and — basically—we are confident that you’ll get the right size.

51cm Hunqa: 79- 84cm PBH (Saddle height 68 to 73)54cm Hunqa: 83.5-89cm PBH (Saddle height 72-81cm, standover on biggest tire is 83.5cm)58cm Hunqa: 87.5-93cm PBH (Saddle height 76-84cm, standover on biggest tire is 87.5cm)62cm Hunqa: 91.5-100cm PBH (Saddle hight 82-90cm, standover on biggest tire is 91.5cm) Basically, the Hunqapillar is easy to size. Nine in ten riders can go by the following:Under 5' 6" : 48cm5'6" to 5'8" : 51cm5-9" to 5-11: 54cmLong-legged 5-10" to 6-1: 58cmLong legged 6ft to 6-4.4: 62cmIf you're in the high sixes, get a Bombadil,
either a 64cm or 68cm. It costs more, but it's still a good deal, and
if you're too tall for a 62 Hunqa, then you probably haven't ever had a
bike that fit you (in your adult life), and it's time for the madness
to stop.
“Can this happen well and right without me being there? What if something goes wrong?”Like what? We’ve never had a bike misassembled or maladjusted. If that were to happen, we’d take care of it at our expense. But consider the responsibility we have when we sell expensive bikes to people we’ve never met who live thousands of miles away. We know, from our own experience, the feeling of helplessness that overwhelms you when your long-awaited widget shows up wrong. If that were to happen, we’ll be there for you. The relationship and niceness doesn’t end with the sale.

Is the bike ready to ride right out of the box?Your bike has been thoroughly tested before we boxed it, and then minimally disassembled to fit it into the box. Re-assembly takes 15 to 30 minutes. We have a video online showing you how, but if you’d rather take it to a bike shop, by all means do so. We pack the bike so well that unpacking it will take about half as long as re-assembling it, so if you’re paying by the hour, unpack it yourself. Expect a shop to charge $30 to $40 to reassemble it. The reassembly video is:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbvZJWIm1o0

Cost, lead-time, etc.A Hunqapillar frame, fork, and headset cost $2000, and the standard color is a wonderful green we call Jay’s Green, because Jay was the first one to get it. So much for him having an exclusive. Other colors cost from zero to $350 extra, typically, but the green is really, really good. Jay has good taste.The parts to complete a Hunqapillar run from $1600 to $2500, but $1600 gets you plenty of options and all good stuff—it’s really the way to go, unless you simply must fancy it up. All told, look to spend between $3,600 and $4,600 on a complete Hunqapillar. Lead time is typically four months, but at any given time we may have your bike in stock.

Which handlebar?This
is the hardest decision you'll make, because every option makes sense.
If you're in love with drop bars, go ahead. Put them on a DirtDrop
stem, and you'll love life. If you want maximum comfort and the most
upright position: Albatross bars. Use a Technomic Deluxe stem. 10 to
12cm long. Probably a quarter of the Hunqas will go out with Albastache H'bars
-- either with a DirtDrop 8 or 10, or a Technomic 7 to 8cm. And
heavens, what better choice for a Hunqapillar than the BoscoBullmoose bar?
Hand-fillet brazed by Nitto of CrMo steel, it complements the bike and
will confound any newbie who sees it.
Tires.Don't
put on anything smaller than a 40mm. And that one, only for road
touring. If most of your riding is on pavement but you want
trailabilities, go with a 50-55mm Schwalbe Big Ben or Marathon Deluxe or Mondial or Almotion.

Our No Warranty Frame Warranty

It may seem odd for a company that makes such reliable frames to not have a standard instant freebie replacement - warranty, but hold on. Just because something that's defective is likely to break, doesn't mean anything that breaks is defective. Even superbly designed, artfully made steel bikes ridden according to design intent can break. We know that, and go to great lengths to prevent it.

We're skilled, experienced non-defective designers. We use top-notch, proven, non-defective materials. Within the few but real constraints pricing imposes, we're selective about who builds our frames. When it comes to caring about weight and shooting for lightness, we're super conservative. It's not far off the mark to say we don't care about weight, and it's absolutely true that we never compromise a frame to make it lighter. A good frame weighs what it ought to weigh.

After all that, our frames are tested and meet strict EN (European Nation) standards, which are tougher than the German DIN standards, and considerably tougher than the American CPSC standards. But sometimes a frame breaks, and that's no more proof of a defect than a broken window is proof of defective glass. It is impossible to tell the history of the frame. It may be impossible for even its owner to know it. Sometimes even good things break, and anybody, or any company who doesn't acknowledge that is not being honest.

All that said, broken frames are rare. Crash damage, and running into garages with bikes on the roof rack are way, way more common. Tell us your frame's story. We may fix it for nothing, but you pay the freight. Or we may charge a fee for the fix. It is at our discretion, but we're not your enemy, and you are our friend. We keep that in mind, always.

The great thing about steel frames is they can be fixed. In many cases, the fixed frame can be reinforced so that it's stronger than the original. You want a fresh start, but a fresh start with a beefed up frame can be even better. A thicker tube. An extra tube. Whatever it takes, we can do it. In almost all cases, a fixed frame needs new paint. We'll work with our local painter and get it to you at no profit. A repair may cost nothing or nine hundred dollars. It all depends.

In any case, we feel beholden to original owners only. No other warranty (or non-warranty) is implied, so don't go inferring any. But no matter how you came upon your frame, we are happy to advise you on how to get your frame repaired at a reasonable cost. We want your bike back in action, too. Fair enough?

Keven, Mark

Wanted to tell you that I do love my new bike. I ride it 5-6 times a week and, though it's a bit embarrassing for a fully vested late middle aged adult to say, when I'm not on it I'm thinking about when I will be on it next. This is exactly what I asked Keven to build up for me. A bike like the bikes I rode when I was a kid, always anywhere ride as I am. Chokes me up, it does. It is a simple profound pleasure, giving me what James Dickey liked to call life's "deep delights."

And taking Grant-man's advice and buying the Taubes book, I'm eating differently and have lost poundage, down in 10-12 weeks from nearly 235# to 216# at my physical the other day. My doc says my cholersterol counts are as good or better versus before I started upfats/downcarbs and I may come off blood pressure medication (I'm 57 with a history). I'll be at 210# soon. It's nothing dramatic compared to some of the stories, but it's still good and a result of Rivendell.

You know, you do "sell" more than bikes.

Hope this finds you all well,

M

Hi there!

I hate to blow up your inbox with another long email but I had to write to you to tell you how fabulously the Hunq performed on tour. We left the Oregon coast for New York City about two months ago-which I guess you know about because my mother called me to say she emailed you (for which I apologize)- and are now safely back at home. I am in love with my Rivendell and I have never regretted getting it.

We had to ride through some pretty sketchy terrain and she held up wonderfully. At one point I broke a spoke in my rear wheel about 130 miles from the nearest bike shop. I was stupid enough to forget to bring extra spokes so we had to true up the wheel as best we could and ride across the desert with our fingers crossed but we made it. I am normally an extreme tightwad but fortunately I splurged on some good wheels (not from you guys) and racks (from you guys) and I am so glad I did. I had a lot of weight on my bike because we were in some pretty good wilderness for quite a bit and I never, ever worried about the Hunq which was quite refreshing.

It was the most amazing time ever and I thought that I would get touring out of my system when all was said and done, but here I am planning a coastal tour along hwy 101 with my sister. The Hunq was so comfortable and I loved having the assortment of eyelets. Aside from the rear wheel fiasco the only other mechanical problem I had was a lost bolt in my front rack. Now, sadly, I have a huge scar on my forks from the rack scraping the paint.

We had to ride some pretty tough roads (the Amish are not kind to asphalt) and I was so glad to have so much tire clearance especially on some of the gravel farm roads. I took a couple thousand pictures (literally) and probably a fourth of them are just of my bike. It was hard to resist because the Hunq is truly a piece of art.

One of the most fabulous things about it was that I was able to have complete confidence in it riding across the country fully loaded, and yet I was able to strip it down and zip around NYC (which is one of the funnest thing to do ever). Taking a fully loaded touring bike on the subway is an adventure in itself. Anyways, I truly am a happy customer and I thoroughly believe the Hunqapillar is the best bicycle ever built and it is perfect in every way. I had to ship it back home separately and it isn't here yet and I fear I am getting separation anxiety. I dismantled my road bike before I left so the only bike I have to ride right now is an old Lotus single speed I slapped together for a friend. : ( It is not the same as the Hunq.

One of the trip goals was to take a picture of the Hunq next to a Hunkapiller mail box but I didn't see a single one. I got a picture next to the Cody, WY, Woolly Mammoth Museum instead.

-DD

Keven,

Last Spring you fielded my call to RBW and facilitated a seamless purchase of a Hunqapillar, for which I owe you thanks. At the time you requested that I send you a pic of the built-up bike; it is below. I am beyond pleased with the frame/fork and anticipate never parting with it. I'd say that's an endorsement I never thought possible for a non-custom frame. Thanks for your advice and your assistance with this build.

Sincerely,

PC

Hey man, this is J----, I passed through a few months ago on a biketour and you sold me my Hunqapillar. I've been riding it everyday fora little over a month now and I just wanted to say thanks again forall of your help. I couldn't be more stoked on the bike honestly. Itneeds to go on a serious tour in the very near future. I can't believehow well it rides and handles loaded up with gear. I included a fewsnap shots so you could see it all built up.

i test rode a v.1 hunq a few years ago and loved it except for the tire limitations and 26 inch wheel in my size. the v.2 eliminated both those issues for me and it now clears 2.3 tires in the rear and 700c wheel size in 54. i didn't want to vacillate every time it came to go for a ride, so i downsized my fleet with the idea of purchasing the hunqapillar in mind. comfortable, versatile and excellent craftsmanship. glad i waited for exactly what i wanted.

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It's outlasted two cars and a pick up truck.

February 23, 2015

Reviewer:
David Gardner
from Thermopolis, WY United States

Granted, the cars and the pick up weren't new and shiny as my hunqapillar was when I got mine in the first batch. Neither did they see as much use as the hunqapillar has, gone as many wild places and been as dependable. I'd like to say I've hauled enormous loads on epic journeys but alas; it's had a large saddlesack and a medium shopsack on it since I built it up but that's been enough to pick up several days worth of groceries. It's taken me to and from work in all weather. Taken myself and my son on adventures out in the hills or across town to the park. My hunqapillar has been both sturdy and forgiving at the same time and has been as versitile as a bike could be expected to be. I had never owned a bicycle such as this one but it's been worth absolutely every penny. The staff at RBW (Keven) was beyond helpful and more than patient while I vacilated about the purchase.The materials, design and construction of this machine make it a candidate for the last bike I may ever need.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Amazing trail, bike camping, and all rounder

July 23, 2014

Reviewer:
Dave
from Oakland, CA United States

Already owning a sporty, steel road bike, I wanted a second bike that could handle all my other riding: trails, s24o's, and a round town/commuter bike. The Hunqapillar fits that bill and more. As a mountain bike with 2.1" knobbies it handles the trails like a boss. With 1.75" road tires, it works great for short and long distance riding, rides surprisingly light and handles very well, even replacing my road bike on many rides.

The Albastache bars are great with this bike on the trails and road. Excellent control both on dirt and pavement, I thought these bars would a compromise but they really are the best of both worlds.

Brian was fantastic at making recommendations for the build based off my riding and I've been very happy with the setup, zero tinkering..so far. The entire Rivendell crew was amazing and super helpful.

Green color is amazing in person (looks good on the site too, but better in person.)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Just a Hunq, a 62cm Hunq of burning love

October 16, 2012

Reviewer:
Robert Harrison
from Honolulu, HI United States

[With apologies to Elvis]

Without a doubt my new Hunqapillar is the most comfortable and easiest to ride bike I own. Delivered 10 days ago, my 62cm has the standard build kit, a B-17 Select, Gripster Pedals, racks and fenders, as well as a Wald basket.

Packing was superb and I only had to put on a few bits and pieces myself. I was out and about within 90 minutes of opening the box (and would have been quicker had I not photgraphed the whole thing).

The bike fits my 95.5 PBH like a dream with the a 13cm Tallux stem holding up Alba bars with Silver bar ends.

I've had it on the road for at least an hour a day both as a daily commuter and as for afternoon rides with a few hills. This coming weekend I go camping and expect things will go swimmingly.

Thanks to all the RBWers who helped with my order, especially Brian who really went out of his way to make me happy!

Aloha and happy trails!

Bob

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Super Camp Bike

September 3, 2012

Reviewer:
Brian Hanson
from Seattle, WA United States

I have a 54cm in the original gray/bean color and have used it with Moustache and Porteur bars. With the 50 Dureme tires, it rides solid, comfy, and stable. It's set up like a truck, and I have plenty of rackage to hold 100 lbs if needed. Love this bike!